Figure 1.--

The Babylonian Captivity, also referred to as the Babylonian Exile, was a significant period in Jewish history (598/97-539 BC). Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II forcibly exiled conquered Judeans to Babylon (597 BC). It was an important turning point in Jewish history. Further exiles occurred asca result of an uprising (587/86 BC). Historians agree that he exile did not take place at one timem but at several times, primarily as the result of uprisings and that not all Jews were forced to leave their homeland. Dome believe the Babylonian captivity began when the young King Jehoiachin was deposed and sent into exile with his family, his court, and long along with thousands of other Judeans. King Jehoiachin/Jeconiah, also known as Coniah. ruled Judah for only a brief period before being captured by the Babylonians. After years in cruel captivity, Jehoiachin was released by Evil-Merodach, the next king of Babylon. After 37 years, it was a surprisding change. Jehoiachin was granted a position of honor at the Babylonian court. For Jews this was seen a proff that God had not given up on the covenent with the Jewish people. Other scolars believe that the first deportation only began with the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar (586). The Captivity led to the development of new religious practices, new cultural influences, but the preservation of Jewish identity during exile. The Captivity began with the conquest of Jerusalem and subsequent multiple deportations. It fundamentally altering the course of Jewish history. The Judeans undoubtedly suffered greatly, especially with the treks to ditant foreign lands. Although there is no verified accounts on his. We can look at the 19th century Trail of Tears in America fo the likely conequenes. The forced movemnt in ancient times wwold have surely been much worse. And once settled there would have been compelling cultural pressures in distant, alien lands. Even so, the Jews were allowed to maintain their national and religious identity. And the Jews took advantage of this opportunity. The elders continued to have influence and supervised the communities. Ezekiel was one of several prophets who first kept alive the hope of one day returning home--a faith that would survive in others Jew in other Diasporah communities over nearly three millennia. Jewish scholars believe this was probably the period when the first synagogues appeared. The Captivity Jews observed the Sabbath and religious holidays, practiced circumcision, and substituted prayers for the former ritual sacrifices in the Temple that dominared relgiou practices. There are differences as to the dates. This asffects how long the Jews were held in Babylonian captivity. One tradition accepts a tradition (Jeremiah 29:10) that the exile lasted 70 years. Some date the Captivity to (586 to about 516 BC). Some use the date when the rebuilt Temple was dedicated in Jerusalem (516 BC).

Judea

When Solomon died (922 BC), his two sons disputed the sucession and the kingdom was divided . The northern kingdom was Isreal. The southern kingdom was Judah. Religious differences developed in the two kingdoms. The prophet Elijah describes this era. The two kingdoms existed between Assyria to the West and Egypt to the east. For a time the Assyrians were content to receive tribute from the Jews. Egypt was ruled by the southern Saites dynasty and was absorbed in internal affairs. Assyrian power varied over time. The Jews instead of joining forces against the Assyrians quareled with each other. There were wars between Israel and Judah. And there were civil wars within the two states over the kingship. There were also wars with neigboring peoples like the Canaanites. Both states had commercial, military, and diplomatic contacts with the other peoples of the Levant. Of particular importance were the Phoenicians/Philistines (coat of Lebanon) and the Aramaeans (Damascus and Hamath). Israel was evenially conquered by the Asyrians (722 BC). Judah held out for a time. King Jehoiachin/Jeconiah, also known as Coniah ruled Judah for only a brief period before being captured by the Babylonians.

Babylonian Conquest

The Babylonians with the defeat of the Assyrians took over most of Western Asia. Judah without a powerful ally (Eother Assyria or Egypt) could not by itself resist the large Babylonian amies. Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, raised a large force to punish Judah for defecting to the Egyptians (598 BC). When the massive Babylonian Army appeared at the walls of Jerusalem, the new king of Judah, Jehoiachin, realizing that resistance was futile, handed the city over to Nebuchadnezzar (597BC). This coided the city being sacked. The conquerer than appointed a new king for Judah, Zedekiah. As was the practice of the time, Nebuchadnezzar deported about 10,000 Jews to his capital in Babylon. This was a strategy to weaken resistance to foreign rule by eliminating the cultural elite. The deportees were carefully selected. They were the Jewish elite and drawn from professionals, the wealthy, and craftsmen. The peasant class and other ordinary people were permitted to stay in Judah. The deportation of the Jewiosh elite is now known as the Babylonian Exile. Further resistance and Baylonian actions followed. The Babylonians destroyed Solomon's great Temple, often called the First Temple (586 BC). The great prohets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel) wrote pitiful lamentations about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. 【Book of Prophets】 The Jewish Prophets tried to understand why God had forsaken them and allowed pemitted the Babylonians to conquer and exile the Jewish people. They concluded that the Jews had not adequately observed the Law (the Ten Commandments). Essentially the Jewish people had not kept up their side of the Covenant, so God had not kept up his side. Ironically in our modern world, this is the same argument Islamicists use. They claim that the poverty and weakness of the Arab people is due to an inadequate commitment to Islam. The Hebrew not yet Jewih kingdom, started with such optimisy and glory by David, ended. And at it not appear ovr vfoirst centuriesand then millennia, it seemed as if it would never appear. TYhere was a brief sprle in the second century BC, but to the exiled Jews forced to relocate and the Jews left in Palestine to eke out a living in their once proud land, it seemed as if a Jewish nation was lost for good. It was as if theCobenent was broken for ever-- the special bond that Yahweh had promised to the Hebrews that they wre the chosen people that would shasce place in history. It seemed broken and forgotten by their god.

Exile

The Babylonian Captivity, also referred to as the Babylonian Exile, was a significant period in Jewish history (598/97-539 BC). It is the period from the fall of Jerusalem To Babylon (586 B.C.) to the reconstruction in PaleTstine of a new Jewish state. Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II forcibly exiled conquered Judeans to Babylon (597 BC). It was an important turning point in Jewish history. Some believe the Babylonian captivity began when the young King Jehoiachin was deposed and sent into exile with his family, his court, and long along with thousands of other Judeans. The conquering Babylonians saw the Jews as hostile, in part because they had been hard-fighting Assyrian allies. They took many many Jews hostage, chosing the Jewish elite, both men and women, and their children. Deportations like this were common imperial practices by both the Asyrians and Baylonians. The Babylonians brought the Jewish hostages to Babylon itself where they could be better controlled. You might ask, why were hey not just alaughtered. The reason alkmost certainly is that the dead can not be exploited. And a cnquered people were an aeconomic assett.

Orther Exiles

Historians agree that he exile did not take place at one timem but at several times, primarily as the result of uprisings and that not all Jews were forced to leave their homeland. Other scholars believe that the first deportation only began with the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar (586). Further exiles occurred as a result of ressistance. The most imprtant uprising occurred (588-86 BC). Zedekiah defected from the Babylonians one more time. Nebuchadnezzar responded with a punative expedition. He conquered Jerusalem (586). Nebuchadnezzar caught Zedekiah and forced him to watch the execution of his sons. Then he had him blinded and deported him to Babylon. Again, Nebuchadnezzr deported the prominent citizens, but the number was far smaller than in 597: somewhere between 832 and 1577 are believed to have been.

Developments in Palestine

Jewish historians debate the number of Jews brought to Babylon and the number that remained at home. Biblica accounts do notaddress this. The Babylonian Captivity is chronicled in the Old Testament. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel (the book of Prophets) penned sad descriptions describing the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple.

Impact

The Captivity began with the conquest of Jerusalem and subsequent multiple deportations. It fundamentally altering the course of Jewish history. The Judeans undoubtedly suffered greatly, especially with the treks to ditant foreign lands. Although there is no verified accounts on his. We can look at the 19th century Trail of Tears in America fo the likely conequenes. The forced movemnt in ancient times wwold have surely been much worse. And once settled there would have been compelling cultural pressures in distant, alien lands. Even so, the Jews were allowed to maintain their national and religious identity. In thi regard, the Babylonian captivity was much different than the Assyrian deprtment of Jews. And the Jews in Babylon took advantage of this opportunity. The elders continued to have influence and supervised the communities. The Jews in Babylon managed to mmaintain some contact with their kinsmen in Palestine 【Ezekiel】 Ezra and Nehemiah persuaded many of the captive Jews in Babylon to more faithfully observe the Law. Ezekiel was one of several prophets who first kept alive the hope of one day returning home--a faith that would survive in others Jew in other Diasporah communities over nearly three millennia. The Captivity led to the development of new religious practices, new cultural influences, but the preservation of Jewish identity during exile. Jewish cososmology adopted many ideas prevalent throughout much of Mesopotamia. Jewish scholars believe this was probably the period when the first synagogues appeared. The Captivity Jews observed the Sabbath and religious holidays, practiced circumcision, and substituted prayers for the former ritual sacrifices in the Temple that dominared relgiou practices.

Change of Condition

After years in cruel captivity, Jehoiachin was released by Evil-Merodach, the next king of Babylon. After 37 years, it was a surprisding change. Jehoiachin was granted a position of honor at the Babylonian court. For Jews this was seen a proff that God had not given up on the covenent with the Jewish people.

Dates

There are differences as to the dates. This affects how long the Jews were held in Babylonian captivity. One tradition accepts a tradition that the exile lasted 70 years. 【Jeremiah 29:10】 Some date the Captivity to (586 to about 516 BC). Some use the date when the rebuilt Temple was dedicated in Jerusalem (516 BC).

Sources

Old Testaments Books of the Propphets.